National Knitting Week 10-16th October

Announcing the world’s first ever National Knitting Week, 10-16 October 05. A great success with over 150 events benefiting from media coverage throughout the UK.

This year was the UK’s first National Knitting Week, and over 150 knitting events were held across the country – and that’s just the ones we knew about!

A creative, stress-busting knitting craze is sweeping the nation, attracting some 2 million fans including celebrities such as Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Russell Crow and Geri Halliwell. Knitwear is splashed across the high street, in magazines and sported by all the latest designers from Missoni to Julien McDonald.

This huge revival in knitting was celebrated with the world’s first ever National Knitting Week.

Visit www.nationalknittingweek.co.uk for the complete list, region by region of some of the major events that took place to celebrate National Knitting Week. At the last count, over 150 events took place up and down the country.

Knitting fans were encouraged to visit www.ukhandknitting.com to become part of this ground-breaking week. The BHKC provided information on venues in every region and all that was needed to get started could be downloaded: learn to knit guides, free patterns, the latest events, and fact sheets.

Some of the many events included….

• The Knitted Wedding Ceremony at the Pump House Gallery, Battersea, London. Between 26 September - 9 October 200. Members of the public of all knitting abilities were able to join together and help knit this spectacular event.  The date set for the wedding ceremony and champagne reception was the 9 October 2005 at the gallery, where knitting artist Freddie Robins got married to her partner Ben Coode-Adams.

Web: www.castoff.info, Email: castoff@castoff.info

• The Children’s Society joined forces with the British Hand Knitting Confederation and cutting edge knitting group, Cast Off, to launch Knit it! from September 2005. Cast Off arranged fun and adventurous knitting meetings and workshops in a range of unusual public settings, from music festivals, special events in department stores, to knitting gatherings on the train. Over 250 pledges of support had been given at the last count.

Web: http://www.the-childrens-society.org.uk/participate/SG_Feature/7541/27/

• The Lands End and John O’Groats Challenge Event. A speed Knit-off between knitters’ in Lands End and John O’Groats attracted good media coverage. Tel. Elizabeth McDonald: 01847 896497

• Guinness Record. Lands End Knitters achieved a new Guinness record for the biggest pair of knitting needles – boat oars!

• London Knit Out. This event on Sunday 16th October attracted a team of knitting rugby players who enjoyed some good press coverage.

Alexandra Palace, Knitting and Stitching Show, 13th-16th October 05. With National Knitting Week coinciding with this event there were many knitting attractions that took place at the show…

• Knitted Textile Student Awards

The Knitted Textile Students Awards received lots of great comments from the visitors to the show on the innovation, creativity and high standard of the work. Over 35 of the very best finalists work was exhibited. Many of the big name stars in the knitting industry were amongst our panel of judges, including Erika Knight, Sandy Black, Debbie Bliss, Kate Taylor, Sasha Kagan, Kandy Regis, Kate Buller, Jane Bolsover and Kate Buller.

• Stitch ‘n’ Bitch Champagne Bar

New at the show this year was the Stitch ‘n’ Bitch Champagne Bar giving the opportunity for Stitch ‘n’ Bitch members throughout the UK to meet up to knit n natter and swell their members.

• Children’s Society 

The Children’s Society’s campaign ‘Knit it!’ got off to a brilliant start with over 200 people pledging their support. They were delighted to have the opportunity to exhibit alongside the Stitch ‘n’ Bitch stand in the Champagne Bar.

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How does your Knitting Grow?

This new national community project, co-sponsored by the BHKC, Future publishing’s Simply Knitting magazine and ICHF, was launched this autumn and is already enjoying a good response.

ICHF have provided 'I've Knitted the Garden' stickers for poeple who come along to the shows and knit something for the garden. ICHF will exhibit the completed life-size Knitted Garden as a show highlight at their autumn '06 and spring '07 shows

So far, contributions to the knitted garden  include a crazy paving path, a deck chair, a window box, a wisteria arch, a wonderful selection of flowers, mushrooms, birds and  bird box, frog and pond lily to name a few. We anticipate many more pledges from enthusiasts keen to contribute towards this latest project.

This exciting national knitting competition, sponsored by the BHKC, GMC’s Knitting magazine and ICHF exhibition organizers, is aimed to encourage and showcase the creative development of design in hand knitting/crochet for today’s modern world. The competition takes on a new theme each year and for 2006 it is ‘Accessorise!’

Entries should reflect the current revival and appeal of hand knitted/crocheted fashion or home accessories with the emphasis on design that is fresh and innovative.

The response so far has been good and during the run up to the Christmas deadline many more are expected.  A gallery of the finalist’s work will be one of the exhibits at ICHF’s Sewing for Pleasure show, 30th March - 2nd April 06.

Click here to enter our knitted 'Accessorise' competition

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